An evaluation of the Malvern optical particle monitor
Abstract
Operational characteristics, limitations, and accuracy were determined for the Malvern 2200/3300 particle sizer, a laser-based optical particle sizing device which utilizes the principle of Fraunhofer Diffraction as the means of particle size measurement. This investigation focused on relatively small particles in the range of 5 to 150 microns. Primarily, well characterized particles of coal in a coal and water mixture were utilized, but a selection of naturally occurring, industrially generated, and standard samples (i.e., glass beads) were also tested. Results discussed cover sample-to-lense distance and sample concentration; the applicability to aerosols; tests of the manufacturer supplied software; and size measurement comparisons with the results of Coulter analysis. Characteristics of the software data-fitting routine were also examined. Criteria to select which of the three available distribution functions (Normal, Rosin-Rammler, and Log-Normal) best fits the data were determined and sensitivity to abnormal data was tested. The use of model independent software, in cases of data known to or not to possess one of the three available size distributions, was also examined.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- July 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983STIN...8433775A
- Keywords:
-
- Electro-Optics;
- Particle Size Distribution;
- Particulate Sampling;
- Performance Tests;
- Aerosols;
- Alignment;
- Computer Programs;
- Diffraction Patterns;
- Distribution Functions;
- Helium-Neon Lasers;
- Lenses;
- Instrumentation and Photography